Body temperature in the Nigerian neonate--comparison of axillary and rectal temperatures

Body temperature was measured in 104 healthy full-term neonates of appropriate weights using the rectal and axillary routes simultaneously at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 min after placement of the thermometer. Normal body temperature in the Nigerian newborn, irrespective of the site where it was obtained, ranged from 35.9 degrees C to 37.5 degrees C. There was a strong positive correlation between axillary and rectal temperatures (r = 0.9). Prior to stabilization, mean rectal temperatures at every minute were significantly higher than axillary temperatures, (P less than 0.001). Although rectal temperatures stabilized earlier than axillary temperatures (3 min and 5 min respectively), the difference between mean stabilized temperature taken at the two sites was not significant (P greater than 0.05). This study provides normal reference data on body temperature in the Nigerian newborn. It is suggested that the axillary route be used more frequently when taking temperature in the newborn because of its safety and its good correlation with the rectal temperature readings.